Indiana added 8,200 private sector jobs in January. The state Department of Workforce Development reports that’s the 19th consecutive month of job growth.
Still, the unemployment rate rose 0.3% to 8.6% for January. Officials say it’s due to more Hoosiers entering the labor force, and a large number of those returning to look for work.
Locally, the jobless rate increased 1.6% in Lafayette, which now has a rate of 9.8%. Unemployment in West Lafayette climbed from 5.6% to 6.3% during January.
The number of Hoosiers looking for a job in January increased in Tippecanoe and surrounding counties as well. The average increase in unemployment for the eight counties is 1.6% for the month.
Benton and Carroll counties experienced a two-point-four percent increase in those seeking a job. They join Fountain and White counties with unemployment of more than 10%.
- Benton Co, up 2.4% to 10.3%
- Carroll Co, up 2.4% to 10.4%
- Clinton Co, up 1.7% to 9.9%
- Fountain Co, up 1.4% to 10.5%
- Montgomery Co, up 0.7% to 9.1%
- Tippecanoe Co, up 1.4% to 9%
- Warren Co, up 1.9% to 9%
- White Co, up 1.6% to 10.2%